The ice-cold Kansas City Royals will try to avoid losing their sixth in a row as they play host to the Cleveland Indians at Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium. The action will begin at 8:15 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to SportsTime Ohio to catch the game.
Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Kansas City (+195) as the underdog to Cleveland (-215). Bettors can wager on the game’s total with odds sitting at +100 for over nine runs and -120 for under nine. Bettors can also wager on the game’s spread with the runline odds sitting at -145 for the Indians -1.5 runs and +125 for the Royals +1.5.
The Royals are 38-90 straight up (SU) and 59-68 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 35.3 units for moneyline bettors and 19.9 units (ATS). Kansas City has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven. The Indians have gone 73-54 SU this year and are 61-65 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 9.4 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 11.2 units ATS. Cleveland has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Royals games have a 55-65-7 over/under record in 2018. Cleveland has an over/under record of 63-58-5.
Mike Clevinger is getting the start for the visiting Indians. The right-handed Clevinger is 9-7 with a 3.25 ERA and 155 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with nine strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA against Kansas City this year (two starts).
The Royals will turn to righty Brad Keller (6-5, 3.32 ERA) to the mound. Keller has 67 strikeouts and 40 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.35. Keller is 1-0 with two strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Cleveland this year.
As a unit, Kansas City’s pitchers have yielded 5.4 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starters have a 5.30 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 5.16 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 7.3 K/9. In 50 games against divisional foes, Royals starters have an ERA of 5.31 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.18.
The Kansas City offense is putting up 3.6 runs per contest, including 4.1 per game against divisional foes and 2.6 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .222/.266/.371 over its last five games and is 0-5 SU during that span.
The Royals’ batters have been led by second baseman Whit Merrifield and catcher Salvador Perez. Merrifield is hitting .306/.374/.433 with nine home runs, 44 RBIs, 60 runs and 28 steals, while Perez is hitting .231 with 21 homers, 61 RBIs and 40 runs.
In the other dugout, Cleveland’s pitching staff allowed 4.0 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 9.38 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.81, along with a K-per-9 of 8.95.
Indians hitters have slashed .258/.332/.439 on their way to 5.1 runs scored per game this year, including 5.3 runs per game against divisional foes and 4.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Cleveland’s offensive production has been led by shortstop Francisco Lindor and left fielder Michael Brantley, who’ve collectively belted 43 home runs. Lindor is slashing .288/.368/.540 with 29 home runs, 76 RBIs, 105 runs and 19 steals, while Brantley is slashing .301/.357/.470 with 14 homers, 68 RBIs and 73 runs scored.
The Indians have lost 7.5 units and are 45-49 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 47 of those games, compared to 43 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Royals have lost 29.9 units and are 37-49 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s cashed in 41 of those games, compared to 40 that went under the total.
Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Indians, ATS Winner – Indians, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Trends
Cleveland has recorded 16 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Kansas City has 13 XBH over its last five.
The Indians have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
Cleveland has posted 22.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 21.8 over its last five.
The Royals have dropped six of their last seven games SU.
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